Guitar

We equip students to succeed as a modern guitarist/composer, singer/songwriter, or even a grunge or metal band player.

UNM’s Guitar Program is headed by Michael Chapdelaine, the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world’s top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres; the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival at Winfield.

It is primarily a traditional classical guitar program, although we don’t force our students to play only classical music if they have interests in other styles. We do insist that they first learn and master the technical and musical aspects of playing classical guitar: tone, orchestration, expressiveness and understanding of the harmonic and formal components of classical music.